carmichael



' Oct. 9, 1928.

3,686,551- A. J. CARMICHAEL BASE FOR PORTABLE LAMPS Filed Sept. 26, 1927 $2 yew/2502*:

7 parts of the base, including the clamping tiller ill-um erran ANDEEW' J. CABIVIICHAEL, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOE TO THE GREIST MANUFACTURING CQMPANY, CF NEW HAVEN, CCLZNEC'TICUT, A COR-lORATION 0F CONNECTICUT.

BASE FOR PORTABLE LAIEPS.

Application filed September 26, 1927. Serial No. 222,168.

This invention relates to bases for portable lamps, and more particularly to dev ces of this character having clamping means normally concealed in the base for firmly attaching the base to a suitable support.

The invention is concerned with and comprises an organization in which the various member, the clamping member spring, the weight within the base and other related parts are so designed that they may bedisassembled or're-assembled with ease, whereby the various parts may be repaired or replacements readily made, without the employment of skilled labor. Other important features of the invention, such as noveldetails of construction, and combinations of elements will be'better understood and appreciated from the following description, and the aforesaid elements of novelty will be pointed out in the "appended claims.

In theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred form of the invention,

.of a hollow, truncated cone. it comprises an inner metal frame member 3, preferably formed of a disk of metal, herein shown provided with-a plurality of radial slits 4, representing out out portions of the metal blank to facilitate shaping the disk into conical form, and a center aperture 6 providedwith a notch 62a flat washer 8 fitting within theframe 3; a lower, shaped circular member 10lying beneath the washer 8 and having depending portions which fit the interior contour of the frame 3; an additional circular, cupped member 12, located below and fitting within the member 10; and a sheet metal exterior base about and is shaped to the upper extremity of cover provided with a central opening having a projection to fit within the notch 6 and prevent relative rotation of the parts 3 and 14.

The elements 3, 8, 10 and 12 are arranged to be clamped together to form a rigid structure with the sheet metal exterior base covering member 14.

The lamp standard 18 comprises a tube having at its upper extremity two upstanding ears 20, perforated at 21 to receive a bolt 22 which pivotally secures the lamp socket S to the standard. in ornamental enclosing tubular member 24 is supported at its lower end upon the washer 16, and at its upper end engages the lower face of a thickened washer 26 having a central aperture to recelve the tubular standard 18, which latter is provided with an annular bead or shoulder 27 engaging the upper edge or face of the washer 26, as shown in nigure 2. The hollow standard 18 passes through central apertures in washer 16, frame member 3, sheet metal covering 14, washer 8, and annular disks 10 and 12, and the lower end of the standard projects beyond the latter disk and is provided with an exterior screw thread. A hollow internally threaded nut 26 engages this thread. and the inner face of the nut bears against the lower face of the disk member 12 when the parts are assembled. The nut 26 is provided with a central aperture through which passes a rod 28.

Theupper end of this rod is provided with a head 29, and a spiral spring 30 surrounds the rod and is confined between the head 29 thereon and an internal shoulder 32 in the n'ut26. The lower end of the rod projects beyond the nut and passes through an aperture in a plate 34, to which plate is secured a wire frame 33, covered by rubber or other cushioning material 35'. 'The parts 34, 33 and 35 constitute a clamp which is normally drawn up into the hollow base by the spring 30. By

I pulling the clamp out from the base as shown in Figure 1 it may be passed beneath the edge of atable, or other support, and released, whereby the expansive force of the spring 30 will firmly clamp the lamp base to the support.

A felt or other soft washer 38, interposed between the plate 34 and the lower face of the nut 26, acts as a cushioning-3 member tween these parts.

It will be observcd that when the several parts as above described have been assembled, the spring will be held under a slight amount of compression between the internal shoulder 32 of the nut and the head 29 on the rod 28, and the clamp will then be drawn within the base and concealed thereby. The parts are held in clamped relation with each other by the engagen'ient of the nut with the lower disk and the tubular standard, and by engagen'ient between the shouloer 27, washer 26, tubular member 2%, washer 16, and the various parts constituting the hollow base, as above pointed out. By screwing the standard into the nut when the parts have been properly combined, all of said parts are tightly clamped together. By unscrewing the standard form the nut various parts of the base and standard may be disassembled with speed and facility,-and without disturbing the assembly of the clamp, hollow nut, rod and spring which parts are removable and replaceable,

.as a unit. The frame member 3 and the annular members 8, 10 and 12, tLlIOl'Cl, when assembled, sullicient weight to mainta n the lamp in upright position against ordinary I shocks or disturbing causes, while the clamp permits the lamp to be firmly attached to a suitable support whether the same be horizontal, inclined, or vertical.

The metal covering 14 preferably has its.

. that the advantages of the invention and benelits to be derived from the same will be apparent without further explanation. Changes may be made in the details of construction,

or in the relative arrangement of some of the parts without departing from the invention, provided that such changes are within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lamp base comprising in combination a hollow member, a tubular standard passing thcrethrough, a rod reciprocally mounted within said standard and provided with a 7 spring, a hollow nut threaded to the lower end of the standard and having an annular shoulder upon which one end of the spring is seated, and a clamp carried by the lower end of said rod.

2. In a device of the class described, a hollow base member, a weight within said mem her, a tubular standard extending into said base, a hollow nut provided with an internal shoulder and threaded to the lower end of the This cushion standard, a rod within said standard, a spiral spring on said rod confined between said shoulder and a projection on the rod, and a clamping membercarried by said rod.

3. In a device of the class described, a hollow base comprising a shell member and a against one of said members, a tubular member surrounding said standard, said member supported upon the base, an annular washer surrounding said standard and bearing upon said tubular member, and a projection upon the standard engaging said washer whereby the several parts may be firmly clamped to gether when the nut isscrewed upon said hollow standard.

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hollow conical frame member, an annular washer within said member, a circular member below said washer, a standard extending through apertures in said members, a nut threaded to the lower end of said standard and bearing against one of said members, a tubular member surrounding said standard and supported from said base, an annular device surrounding said standard and bearing against said tubular member, said standard having an annular projection engaging with the opposite face of said device, a rod contained Within said standard, a spiral spring surrounding said rod and confined between a projection thereon and said 7 nut, and a clamping member secured tosaid rod.

5. In a device of the class described, a hollow base, a plurality of weight members with in said base, a hollow standard extending within the base and through perforations in said weight members, a rod mounted within said standard, a spring on said rod, a combined spring-retaining and base-clamping nut threaded to said standard and having a projecting portion to sustain one end of said spring, retaining means for the other end of said spring, and a clamp attached to the rod. i

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hollow base, a plurality of circular perforated weight members within said base, a hollow standard projecting within the base and through the perforationsin said members, a washer sustained upon the base and surrounding said standard, a tubular member surrounding said standard and supported upon said washer, a circular device engaging the opposite end of said tubular member, an abutment on said standard engaging said device, a nut threaded to said standard and prov ded with an internal abutment, a rod within said standard provided with a projection, a spring confined between said abutment and projection, and a clamp secured to said rod.

7. In a device of the class described comprising a hollow base frame member, a sheet metal covering therefor, an internal washer engaging said member, a plurality of weight members within said base adjacent said washer, a hollow standard extending into said base and through said washer and weight members, an internally shouldered nut in threaded engagement with said standard and i one of said weight members, a rod within said standard provided with an abutment, a spring confined between said abutment and said nut, and a clamping member secured to said rod and arranged to be drawn within said base'by the expansive force of said spring.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a hollow base. a plurality of stabilizing members within said base, a hollow standard having a circumferential projection and arranged to extend partly within and partly without said base, a shouldered nut threaded to the inner end of said standard and arranged to bear at its upper end against one of said stabilizing members, a rod within said standard provided with an abutment, a spring confined between said nut and said abutment, a hollow member surrounding said standard, one end of said member supported upon the base, a washer confined between the other end of said hollow member and the projection on said standard, and a clamp carried by said rod and arranged to be concealed within the base.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of September, A. D. 1927.

ANDREWV J. CARMICHAEL. 

